Bound and Fated

Chapter 5 ( The Punishment)

My eyes stung with tears.

Fifty runs? I stared at him in disbelief.

Emily looked as shock as I felt. But, I was grateful — at least she wouldn't have to suffer much because of me.

What kind of wickedness is this? I looked at the crowd of students and it seems they are enjoying this free show.

"Really?" He asked, I stared at him and he smirked knowingly at me.

What again. Did he hear my thoughts or what. I secretly rolled my eyes.

His smirk deepened, a cruel curl of his lips that said he was enjoying this. The field remain silent, everyone is standing still, watching.

Then, he smirked evilly.

"NOW! He growled out the command, voice low but powerful.

It felt like a spell. Emily and I started running.

Emily finished her ten runs before I knew it.

She stood at the edge of the field, worry and pity written on her face as she watched me.

But, I never gave up. I kept on moving,running and panting.

And Leo, he stood there arm crossed, watching me— unblinking, like a cruel judge.

My legs burned. My breath came in short, gasping, sweat tricked down my back.

Each run felt heavier than the last.

By the fifteenth, my throat burned. By the twentieth, my legs were jelly. Sweat soaked through my jersey and clung to my skin like a second punishment. The stares of the other students had faded, replaced now by whispers and stolen glances.

But Leo—he hadn’t moved an inch.

His eyes followed every step I took, sharp and unreadable. I hated that he was watching. I hated that I cared.

“Bella!” Emily called from the side, her voice shaking. “You don’t have to prove anything! Just stop—please, don't die on me." She cried out, not caring of getting into trouble with Leo.

I wish I could stop too, but I am damn scared of Leo and I want to prove him that I am not a weakling.

I couldn’t stop. Not with him watching. Not with the humiliation of collapsing in front of Leo of all people.

The tears finally spilled, mingling with the sweat on my cheeks. My chest heaved, breath hitching in uneven bursts.

By the thirtieth run, my vision blurred.

By the thirty-fifth, I stumbled—hit the ground hard with my knees. My hands scraped the dirt.

The field went silent.

Emily gasped. A few students murmured.

I pushed myself up slowly, my arms trembling.

Leo still watched.

I dragged my body back onto the track, forcing one foot in front of the other, my pride and shame tangled together like thorns in my chest.

And then—at the run of forty-two—I collapsed.

Everything spun.

My body refused to move.

The sky above me was blue and vast and uncaring.

I could hear Emily’s footsteps rushing toward me, her voice distant, panicked.

And then… everything stopped.

Strong arms caught me just before my head hit the ground. Cold. Strong but caring.

I blinked up through blurry eyes and saw his face—Leo's face—right above mine.

His brows were furrowed. His jaw clenched. For the first time, he didn’t look cold.

He looked… furious.

But not at me.

“You’ve proved your point.” he said, his voice softer now. Controlled. " I must commend, you are really a stubborn girl with a pride as high as skyscraper." He said, and picked me up in his strong arms.

My eyelids fluttered.

Everything turned black.

*

*

I woke up slowly, like carefully removing a hand cast.

My body ached with every breath, and for a moment, I was caught between dream and reality—between Leo's cold stare and the sound of my pounding footsteps on the field.

Then came the softness of the bed beneath me, the clean scent of disinfectant, and the white wall of the room.

Where am I?

My throat was dry. My lips, cracked. But something warm pressed gently against my hand.

I turned my head.

It's a human and looks familiar.

“Emily…”

She jolted upright from the chair where she sat, eyes wide and watery. “Bella! Oh my God, you're awake!” She gripped my hand tighter. “You scared the hell out of me!”

She quickly pressed a button. Some minutes after, a blonde female nurse entered.

She looked smart and beautiful in her white uniform.

She walked towards us and Emily shifted back to give her space to attend to me.

She smiled at us. " Hello dear. How are you feeling?" She asked me and placed her right hand on my shoulder.

"I am fine, I guess. But, my body still ache seriously." I replied and squeezed my face in frustration.

She stared at me tenderly.

" Don't worry, the body ache would reduce. It's a gradual process." She assured.

I nod my head in response.

She brought out a syringe from the silver colored tray she brought in.

I shifted nervously on bed.

Emily started at me and started laughing.

"Don't tell you are scared of getting a shot." She asked teasingly in between laughter.

I rolled my annoyingly at her.

" Don't mind your friend. You won't feel it." The Nurse assured.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

She gave me the shot on my left buttock. And true to her words, I didn't feel the pain.

She smiled at me and left the ward.

Emily looked at me and cleared her throat.

"How do you feel now. And sorry for the shot." She said and rubbed my cheeks lovingly.

I tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. “Feels like I got hit by a bus… and dragged for a few miles.” My voice sound low to my hearing.

Emily laughed, but it was strained. Her eyes were red and puffy, her perfect straight brown hair messier than I’d ever seen it. “Well, you did run yourself halfway to death.”

“Did I… finish the runs?”

“No, thank God,” she said, wiping her eyes, her eyes got teary at the remembrance. “You fainted at forty-two. Just collapsed. I thought—I don’t even want to say what I thought.” Her voice cracked.

I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m okay. I think.”

She exhaled deeply, finally letting her shoulders relax. “Bella… why didn’t you stop? You didn’t have to do all of it. Nobody would’ve judged you. Leo was being… cruel.” She said in sudden anger and quickly look around, as if we have another company.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Or maybe… maybe I just needed to prove to myself that I could.”

Emily frowned, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. “That boy is dangerous. Did you see how everyone reacted when he spoke? It’s like... like they were under some spell.”

" Please Bella, just avoid him for now. And if possible, avoid him forever."

"I do not want you to get hurt." She said worryingly.

Then, she looked around suspiciously and whispered....